Blini

Russian Blini are a delicious thin pancake traditionally served with caviar, sour cream, or smoked salmon. Blini recipes usually call for yeast, but using pancake mix makes preparation wonderfully easy. Buckwheat contains no gluten and can be eaten by people with gluten allergy. Buckwheat contains protein, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, and phosphorous. Serve blinis for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Kids will love adding their own toppings. You can experiment with a variety of toppings including jams, fruits, cooked veggies, meat, or fish.

1 cup buckwheat pancake mix, unsweetened

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 egg

1 tablespoon melted butter or vegetable oil

2/3 cup milk (any fat content) or water

Black caviar (our favorite is paddlefish)

Crème fraîche

Chives, snipped

Smoked salmon (optional)

Minced red onion (optional)

To Prepare:

Combine the pancake mix with the salt, egg, butter or oil, and milk or water.

Lightly brush another tablespoon of melted butter onto a skillet over medium-high heat.

When the skillet is hot, spoon the batter into it a tablespoon at a time.

Cook the blinis until tiny bubbles appear, about 1 minute, then flip them and fry until golden brown on each side.

Transfer the blinis to a platter and serve warm with desired toppings.